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Genomics Study Explains Why Some Algae are Like Turducken

December 4, 2012

Many photosynthetic eukaryotes got their light-harnessing organelles indirectly by stealing them from other organisms. In some instances, this has resulted in algae with multiple, distinct genomes belonging to the engulfed organelles and eukaryotes, the evolutionary equivalent of a “turducken.” A study published in Nature last week from an international team including the Joint Genome Institute looks at the importance of retaining these genetic codes as nucleomorphs in the algae. More>